Dillsburg Borough, Northern York argue over ownership of downtown administration building

DILLSBURG — The Dillsburg Borough Council and Northern York County School District are involved in a legal discussion as to who actually owns the building that houses school district administrative offices at 149 S. Baltimore St.

The school district has plans to move its administration to offices in the old high school, now called the Sports and Learning Center, and hopes the sale of the old building will help with costly renovations for the new location.

However, Dillsburg Borough officials are claiming that the borough actually owns the building.

According to borough solicitor Mark Allshouse, years ago, when the building was constructed for school use — when the borough ran the school — there was no actual school district. The borough is claiming that since the district was formed, it had only been using the building that had always belonged to Dillsburg.

Northern York School Board President Harry “Bud” Lake said the district has proof it owns the building.

Several buildings throughout the area were used for education before they were consolidated into one district, he said, adding that when the consolidation occurred, the district obtained ownership.